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She fumbled but managed to dial her mother's telephone number on the cel phone; waiting as it rang three times. On the fourth, she heard her mother's familiar "Hello."
"Mom? It's Mason..."
"Oh.... Mason! You got my message... I, there isn't an easy way to say this, but your father is in the hospital. He's stable, they don't yet know what was wrong, he may have had a heart attack." Her mother's voice sounded slightly steader than it had in the message, but not much.
Mason's first thought was that she should go there immediately. Her father needed her to be there; she should go visit him in the hospital; she must do it immediately. Then she thought of Lucille; could she leave her in her current state? But, Constance was doing well helping run things; and Maeve could stay with Lucille; and most of all... Mason knew, when she asked herself, would Miss Semingworth want me to go? that the answer was an emphatic yes. In fact she thought her employer would be disappointed if she did not; she valued Mason's sense of family responsibility and duty.
Mason told her mother that she would be arranging plane tickets as soon as possible.
"It will be very good to have you here... it doesn't feel right, not having him ...." her mother's voice trailed off.
"I know, Mom..." Mason's sympathy filled her voice, worry too.
"This will be the first Valentine's Day in years... that we haven't... " there was a pause, interrupted by a ragged breath. "I need to... Call me when you have your flight times Mason? If I'm not here just leave it on the machine... I'll pick you up."
"Okay... Mom... " Mason thought... are you okay? But she didn't ask... "It'll be okay. I'll be there soon. I love you."
They each said goodbye, and Mason hung up her cel phone. She sat awhile in frozen thought.
Finally, she drove home, not really noticing she was driving, letting her reflexes guide her along the familiar path. She parked in the garage and rode the elevator up, reaching the door and realizing she didn't remember driving home at all. She began opening the door, using the security codes. Nick was apparently watching the monitor because it opened for her, she walked in.
Nick saw immediately that something was very wrong. All kinds of scenarios flitted through his mind, his face a blank, then he felt Mason hugging him tightly, and he turned his focus on comforting her. She told him about the phone call. He felt simultaneously relieved that it was nothing of an immediate threat, and sad for Mason and her mother.
"Yes," he agreed, "you must immediately visit her." Returning to his workstation, he pulled up an airline reservations system on his computer as Mason watched over his shoulder. Nick booked Mason a first class flight that evening. "When do you wish the return flight, Mason?" he asked.
Mason hesitated, torn between not knowing how long she would need to stay, and wanting to return to her loved ones here as soon as she might. "Well... Tuesday evening, should work. That way I only will miss two nights here..."
Nick typed a few more keystrokes, then sent it on its way. "All you need do is report to the terminal, Mason, and show your identification. Everything will be taken care of." He hesitated. "I could provide you with a charter plane; however, I thought such might raise more questions among your family than you would feel comfortable fielding, especially at such a sensitive time. As it is, you may change your return ticket as you please.... if you would... let us know of changes in your plans?"
Mason hugged him awkwardly as he sat at the computer, seat swiveled to face her. "Yes... of course... I will call you when I get there." She held him in silence, then continued. "I.... am sorry.... cause.... I wanted to spend, well, Valentine's Day is tomorrow, with you, and Constance.... but... " her voice trailed off, sounding helpless.
Very quietly Nicholas told her, "All will be well. We will celebrate when you return? If you feel like celebrating... it will keep." His voice was calm and soothing, and Mason felt some of her worry ease away, the part that was that she was neglecting her new family in aid of her old one.... After another long silence, Nick said, "I believe the limo will arrive in half an hour to take you to the airport. Would you like my assistance in packing your belongings for the trip?"
Mason called her mother and left a message explaining her arrival time and flight number... they packed.... Mason told Constance of her departure and return times, and of the family emergency that prompted the trip... the plane ride was uneventful. Mason was too distraught and distracted to enjoy the unusual luxury of flying first class.
When the plane landed, Mason went to the baggage claim to get her suitcase. As she approached the luggage carousel where her flight number was prominently displayed, she saw a familiar face. Her brother Standish waved, and walked to her side. "Hey, Mason," he said. His voice was softer and more sympathetic than she remembered it, though there was the same edge to his gaze as always. She smiled at him, the smile not reaching her eyes. As she spotted her suitcase, she reached for it, but he got there first. "Let me get that for you, huh?" he said, not leaving her any polite recourse. She smirked inwardly though; little did he know of her increased strength, to which that suitcase was no great load, as she watched him carrying it out to his car, setting it down as he opened the trunk, then hefting it in and slamming down the lid with a thump.